Journeying to a Pilot’s License
By: Sloane Flores, Senior Staff Writer
On February 26, 2026, I flew a plane, a tiny Cessna 172s, alone for the first time. This flight, the first without an instructor, is a crucial step in a student pilot’s journey towards a private pilot’s license (PPL). The feeling of taking off for the first time without an instructor is unforgettable. The pilot is in complete control of the aircraft, and all the nerves melt off after takeoff.
I have been in flight school since the summer before 8th grade. Over the years, I have trained more consistently and have become more serious in my training. I now have over 60 hours and 100 landings. The work put in is hard, hours of online courses, memorization, and having to become knowledgeable in a variety of subjects. However, the long hours are all worth it with each new skill or milestone accomplished.
My first flight was something I will never forget. It is called a “Discovery Flight,” and an interested student and a certified flight instructor (CFI) go up in a plane so that the student can get a feel for the air. Seeing sights, houses, and land from above in this tiny plane was so memorable, and I was hooked.
Another St. Joe student, Leila Hertzel, a sophomore, recently went on her first discovery flight. She shared the feelings she experienced on her first time in such a small plane.
“It was honestly so exciting, and being up in the plane and being in total control was the best feeling ever…As you fly over your hometown and your house, it’s exhilarating, and I’ve never felt anything like it,” Leila said.
Seeing a town from a new perspective shows how truly small we all are. That first flight is just the start: the glimpse of what your future could look like, where you can go, and what you can do. It’s a freedom most won’t ever get to experience. Leila plans on signing up for lessons and starting her journey towards a PPL and unimaginable freedom.
So many lessons can be learned from flight school: not only the skill of flying a plane, navigation, weather, or engineering, but real life skills. Patience, perseverance, keeping calm, and decision-making are just a few of these crucial skills.
Amelia Brunnworth is a senior at St. Joe. Over the summer before her senior year, Brunnworth went to California for a 12-day program with the Air Force. While there, she learned about the Air Force, met pilots, and obtained lots of flying experience. At the end of the program, Amelia completed her first solo flight. Her goal is to be a pilot in the Navy flying F-35s.
“My favorite thing I’ve learned from aviation is that you should never put limits on what you think you can do and also to always be confident in yourself, your skills, and your capacity to learn,” Amelia said.
Piloting grows confidence well because there is no room for doubt. You must be fully trusting in your knowledge; otherwise, it won’t work. You must get comfortable with the uncomfortable and be able to handle every situation calmly.
Before my first solo, my CFI looked at me and said, “You can always just go around”. A “go-around” is a safely aborted landing, where the pilot applies full power, climbs away, and simply tries again. This concept is something I’ve learned to apply in my life. There is always a second chance. If you don’t like your path, you can go again. We can all always go around.
